Poland v Belgium & Serbia v Poland - The Final Battle Soccer EURO 2008

On Tuesday, Leo Beenhakker - coach of the Polish national team - announced the squad for the EC 2008 qualification matches against Belgium (Chorzów, November 17th - 20:30) and Serbia (Belgrade, November 21st - 20:45). 25 players were nominated; seven players made the reserve list.

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Edited by: Administrator Nov 10, 07, 06:39 / #
On Tuesday, Leo Beenhakker - coach of the Polish national team - announced the squad for the EC 2008 qualification matches against Belgium (Chorzów, November 17th - 20:30) and Serbia (Belgrade, November 21st - 20:45). 25 players were nominated; seven players made the reserve list. http://www.pzpn.pl/?inf=13473 Let's get behind the boys and hope they get the job done on Saturday against Belgium !! Vodka's already in the freezer, and I will have Zywiec piwo in the fridge by Saturday. My wife is preparing Polish food for Saturday evening as we've got friends coming to watch the game ! All I need for the perfect evening is a Poland win :o)))))))

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 10, 07, 06:56 / #
I hope they're gonna win too, because the game in Belgrade will be quite difficult... Let's support our White Eagles !

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 10, 07, 07:03 / #
Good luck to all the Home Nations, particularly Scotland who I think have put up incredible performances against France ........ something similar against Italy and they will truly be 'Scotland the Brave' ! England will need Israel to do them a favour ... and then do the business against Croatia .....hmmmmmmmmmmm .............it's a tough ask ! Rooney and Terry definitely ruled out, and after this weekend there may be further casualties . At least for Polska ...... qualification is in their own hands .......... don't blow it !!!!

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 10, 07, 07:13 / #
Quoting: Polanglik Scotland who I think have put up incredible performances against France I'm French............LoL but i support Scotland, i prefer them to qualify than Italy, really ;) For England i must say things are quite complicated...not impossible though, so let's hope. Quoting: Polanglik At least for Polska ...... qualification is in their own hands .......... don't blow it !!!! Yeah !!

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 14, 07, 17:20 / #
Starting to get the pre-match jitters ...... Poland to beat Belgium on Saturday ....... Smolarek on the scoresheet again please :o)

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,211 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Nov 15, 07, 11:13 / #
2 days left...

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Nov 15, 07, 11:15 / #
Quoting: Grzegorz_ 2 days left... Yes - Good luck to Poland and Scotland (and please God Israel - not that we deserve to qualify)

blackadderThreads: 4 Posts: 403 Joined: Jun 28, 07	Nov 15, 07, 11:54 / #
Quoting: Polson For England i must say things are quite complicated...not impossible though, so let's hope. in Croatia we say ''Hope?Nah she's a ***!'' england will qualify only if russia fails 2 games.don't expect any favours from Croatia,the most efficient team on euro qualifyers.nothing personal,but I think most english fans think england will qualify if israel wins russia,and that's what will lead england to doom-lack of respect and prepotency. croatia will win** in macedonia,and then we will win on wembley,mark my words.

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Nov 15, 07, 11:57 / #
Quoting: blackadder we will win on wembley,mark my words. 10Zl says they won't win at Wembley. But Croatia do deserve to be top of the Group. England will not qualify anyway I think. To be honest the bunch of overpaid useless losers do not deserve to qualify. (I of course do not include Steven Gerrard here, him being a deity)

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,211 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Nov 15, 07, 11:57 / #
Go Croatia.

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Nov 15, 07, 12:03 / #
Quoting: blackadder English footballers heavily lack patriotism and team spirit. I'm afraid I have to agree with you my Lord Blackadder. However, I have a cunning plan which should see us qualify for the 2018 World Cup

blackadderThreads: 4 Posts: 403 Joined: Jun 28, 07	Nov 15, 07, 12:03 / #
I think you need Gazza for coach,and some gin distillery for free drinks,and England will know what team spirit is. Too many stars means manager have no influence over them,so don't blame Mc Laren. Find talented young patriots.

blackadderThreads: 4 Posts: 403 Joined: Jun 28, 07	Nov 15, 07, 12:05 / #
Quoting: szarlotka I'm afraid I have to agree with you my Lord Blackadder. However, I have a cunning plan which should see us qualify for the 2018 World Cup Free turnips for all?So nobody will show up for qualifications.Especially Croatia,we LUV turnips.

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Nov 15, 07, 12:06 / #
Quoting: blackadder I think you need Gazza for coach,and some gin distillery for free drinks,and England will know what team spirit is. That was my plan. Quoting: blackadder Find talented young patriots Difficult when most Premiership clubs field 80% of non English in their starting line ups. Some sort of quota system is going to be needed.

blackadderThreads: 4 Posts: 403 Joined: Jun 28, 07	Nov 15, 07, 12:01 / #
English footballers heavily lack patriotism and team spirit.That's their main problem.Terry,Gerrard and Owen not included,I admire them alot.

helloThreads: 37 Posts: 1,104 Joined: Dec 5, 06	Edited by: hello Nov 15, 07, 23:09 / #
The final battle for Euro 2008 begins on Saturday. If Poland wins, we will qualify for Euro 2008 - no matter the other results in our group. The squad has already been known. The biggest surprise is that Jakub Błaszczykowski is not in the starting team. But it could be a good tactic as he can do well when the opponent is weak (or when Poland happens to be in trouble after the first half). The other players were as expected - even though some say Maciej Żurawski should not play in the first squad as he doesn't do well in Celtic. But he is a very valuable player - like Yari Litmanent used to be for Finland or Henric Larsson for Sweden. If we lose or draw and the other matches don't end as a surprise, we will have to beat Serbia on the next Wednesday. Belgium seems to be a weaker opponent so Poland hopes to win on Saturday.

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,211 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Nov 16, 07, 09:25 / #
1 day left...

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 16, 07, 09:38 / #
hmm...are you worrying G ? ;)

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 16, 07, 09:56 / #
I am always worried ...... Polska has been in good situations in the past , only to let themselves down. Apart from 2 World Cups (1974 & 1982) I have gotten used to disppointment and our team not living up to our expectations ! I pray that tomorrow we get the result we need and that Polacy everywhere will be celebrating our first ever qualification for Euro Championships :o) Polska Polska Polska !!!

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 16, 07, 10:09 / #
I will be watching all the matches tomorrow ..... in particular looking forward to the Polska v Belgium game ..... will be watching the game with several good Polish friends who are like myself ... parents Polish but they were born in UK. Vodka (Debowa) is chilling in the freezer, Zywiec is in the fridge, and my wife will be preparing the Polish food ......yum yum. The living room will be decked out in white and red, and we'll all be wearing our Polska shirts ! First and foremost I want Polska to qualify ..... I'd love to see Scotland beat Italy and qualify. I always think Scotland get hard groups from which they have to qualify. Even though I'd like to see England qualify ..... it might do them some good... and shake up those old farts at the FA (Sir Trevor Brooking excluded), if they missed out ! The English Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world, but mainly thanks to foreign stars..... this doesn't allow homegrown talent to flourish to the extent that it should.

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 16, 07, 11:11 / #
Quoting: Polanglik I want Polska to qualify Me too ! ;) Quoting: Polanglik I'd love to see Scotland beat Italy and qualify So do i !!! Go Scotland !! (i'll watch the game tomorrow) For England, it will be difficult...unless the Israelis beat the Russians...we'll see. Quoting: Polanglik The English Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world, but mainly thanks to foreign stars..... Most of the England national players play in the English Premiership...a lot of French too ;)

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 16, 07, 13:10 / #
To Polish people (living in Poland or at least watching Polish TV) I was wondering : when there are games with the national team, does Leo Beenhakker answers questions to journalists, before, or after a game ? If yes, in English ?...does he know some Polish now ?... ;)

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 17, 07, 03:36 / #
Polska - Belgia 17 November - time: 20:30 Chorzów - Śląski Stadium The day has finally arrived .......not long to go now.........:o)) Quoting: Polson does Leo Beenhakker answers questions to journalists, before, or after a game ? If yes, in English ?...does he know some Polish now ?... ;) tell you the truth ..... I watch the games here in London on Polish tv .... live , and i am not sure if Leo knows much Polish. I think the interviews are done via translator - if I am wrong then I'm sure I will be corrected ! Half-time interviews are usually done with Leo's assistant Dziekanowski, and even with some of the players; I will pay particular attention to who gives the interviews during todays game :o) Quoting: Polanglik Rooney and Terry definitely ruled out, and after this weekend there may be further casualties I see that Owen was taken off early in yesterday's win against Austria, and the press say he is doubtful for the Croatia game. Scotland v Italy at 4pm (British time) Israel v Craotia at 17.55 (British time)

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,211 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Nov 17, 07, 05:19 / #
8h left.

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 17, 07, 06:21 / #
Quoting: Polanglik I will pay particular attention to who gives the interviews during todays game :o) Thanks :) In case of a qualification tonight, we may have a surprise, who knows :P Leo may try to speak with a few Polish words...why not ? LoL But Polish is a difficult language, i prefer him to be a good trainer than a good Polish speaker ;) Quoting: Grzegorz_ 8h left. Are you already all dressed in red, G ? ;)

PeterThreads: 5 Posts: 296 Joined: Mar 31, 07	Nov 17, 07, 07:37 / #
Come on Poland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still, I cannot believe that we never qualified for a European Championship before. It defies logic.

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Nov 17, 07, 07:40 / #
Quoting: Peter I cannot believe that we never qualified for a European Championship before. It defies logic Yeah.....and as they will be automatically qualified for the Euro 2012, they must qualify for the Euro 2008, they must deserve their qualification ;)

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 17, 07, 07:46 / #
Quoting: Peter cannot believe that we never qualified for a European Championship before hard to believe isn't it !? All we need to do once we have qualified is to go to Austria/Switzerland and win the tournament !! ....... can you imagine that ?

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Edited by: Polson Nov 17, 07, 07:53 / #
Quoting: Polanglik All we need to do once we have qualified is to go to Austria/Switzerland and win the tournament !! Why not ? ;) Quoting: Polanglik can you imagine that ? I'm not very fluent in Polish, but i saw an article on Onet.pl this morning, Leo said that Poland is (or can be) among the strongest European nations (it is what i understood...) ;)

PolanglikThreads: 40 Posts: 883 Joined: May 16, 07	Nov 17, 07, 08:16 / #
It appears that Polska will be starting the game with one up front ... Maciej Zurawski. Leo believes that Belgium will not come to attack, but start strong defensively. He believes Poland must start calmly and thoughtfully; as the saying goes 'in order to win, one must first not lose'